The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-05-14
GRAND HERoIsM.
A Mexican war veteran who Died to Save
q Woman and Her Babe.

N mGNlCNu V6ter2u
. woman and Her Babe.
A number OF battle-scarred veterans
were sitting around comfortable fire
in General Thomas A. Rowlcy's office
the other day. spinning yarns Of daring
and heroism such as would make the
blood Of the coolest tingle with pleasure
able excitement. During lull in the
conversation the General aroused him
self from a reverie into which he had
dropped, and. with sigh. began:
"Boys, you've been telling tales OF
battles--of men who risked their lives
for their countrys good--but you. one
and ALL have forgotten to mention the
name of man known to you all. and
against whose one act Of self-sacrificing
bravery your stories sink into insignifi-
cance. Irefer to Sergeant John Lytle,
q veteran of the Mexican war, who sur
vived that struggle only to perish later
in nobler and more heroic manner
than did ever mortal man on battle
field.
John was a brother Of Bob Lytle,
who is now in the Delinquent Tax Office.
In 40 he was one of the first to get the
gold fever and leave for California. He
was one of the few who struck luck,
and after a time he got together quite
a snug little fortune. It was then he
tired of the Slope and decided to move
into Mexico, which he did about 1867 or
1868, embarking in the cotton and
;s; h,,c nd ole s,,to
esting himself in silver mining. After
time his health began to fail, and he
started overland to California for his
health. This was in 20. For some
reason or other he never completed his
journey, but instead took passage on
the steamer Continental with Captain
st. Lucas, bound for Mexico. When
the vessel was about three days out
there came up one of those terrible
cyclones that sometimes strike the Pa
cific Ocean, and against which no vessel
is able to sail. Well, the Continental
was not an overly strong ship, and it
sprung leak. Then began the lower
ing of the lifc-boats, but one by one as
they reached the water the wind would
dash them against the side of the vessel
and smash them to smithereens. At
last the storm subsidized, and it was we'll
it did, for the ill-fated Continental was
rapidly sinking. 1t was found that
there were but two life-boats left. and
at least seven more persons on board
than they would carry.
"What was to be done? Some one
suggested casting lots to see who should
escape and who should remain and
perish. Lytle was lucky, and drew
release ticket for the last boat. 1t was
lowered and John was put into it. Just
as it was about to push free from the
vessel there was terrible shrek heard,
and there. on the fast sinking ship,
stood six men and woman. 1t was the
latter who had uttered the cry. In her
arms was babe scarce year old, and
on her face look of anguish and terror
that poor Lytle could not stand.
"'Stop the boat. boys he said, and
take that woman and her child on
board. I'll take her place on the vessel.
She's young and strong, while at the
most haven'ta a great while to live. /
might as we'll die now as later and
despite all protests he took his place on
the Continental, while the unknown
woman and her babe entered the life
boat and were saved. The seven men
on the boat built raft and when the
ship sunk cast out to sea on it. They
were never seen or heard of after.
Lytle's relatives after time wrote to
the consul at Mexico and tried to re-
cover or find out something about his
estate, but to this day have received o
reply. His money, if he had any, and
it is believed he had, has been confis-
Gated by somebody or other, and all
that remains is the memory of his noble
life and death. ."-Pittsburgh Leader